The European Commission is taking another step in its fight against pollution and is gradually getting closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A new proposal from Brussels continues in this regard, strengthening the rights of consumers and extending the useful life of electrical appliances, by imposing on manufacturers the duty of repairing a damaged container by replacing it for ten years after purchase.
From the European Commission they say that repairs are prioritized whenever possible, not only because they reduce costs, but also to be consistent with the challenge of the Green Alliance which will reduce waste and also the use of materials for new productions.
To this end, the Community Executive proposes changes in European rules as well as in matters of machinery, which are still under the legal guarantee of the two-year Community regulations established and when the fault occurs after the protection period has expired.
“We will require the sellers to repair (the devices) with a repair that is cheaper or more expensive than the replacement,” explained the Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, in a press conference in Brussels to present the details of the proposal.
Since the breakdown is not covered by the legal purchase guarantee, due to an accident or the protection has already lapsed, Brussels has proposed changes to offer “more and simpler solutions” and to establish a clear rule: “the manufacturer does not reject the repair of the thing. washing machine without that repair is not possible”, said Reynder .
This obligation will apply to devices whose design allows repair in the European Union, including household aids such as washing machines and televisions, but the Community Executive points out that “soon” smart devices such as mobile phones and tablets will also be included in that list. .
Other ideas by which community services want to encourage repair rather than devices that are still useful to manufacturers informing users of the products they are forced to repair themselves.
The benefits, according to Brussels, will be great for consumers, the environment and the economy. In practice, the bill will make repairs fairer, make it easier to compare repairs and the right to claim that manufacturers will repair certain goods beyond the legitimate warranty in exchange for payment, on the basis of defects.
Also create an online repair platform to connect users to repair shops and refurbish sellers in their area. The platform allows searches by location and quality standards, which will help consumers find attractive offers and increase the visibility of repair shops.
The advocates also have a European repair information form that users can request from any repair shop, with the aim of providing transparent repair conditions and prices, and thus making it easier for users to offer repairs.
According to data from the European Commission, every year 35 million tons of waste, 30 million tons of resources and greenhouse gas emissions of 261 million tons are generated in the European Union despite the fact that a large part of the products go there. Trash cans are “serviceable” appliances that could be easily repaired and extend their useful life.
The obligation to provide the right to repair will initially cover washing machines, dryers, household appliances, cooling aids, electronic equipment, welding equipment, vacuum cleaners and servers and data storage. Although mobile phones, handsets and tablets will soon be added to the list. The benefits, according to Brussels, will be great for consumers, the environment and the economy. In terms of consumer use, the proposal will facilitate the comparison of repair services and the right to request that the manufacturer repair certain goods beyond the legitimate warranty in exchange for payment, regardless of the nature of the defect.
The impact of the measure will also be transferred to the economy. According to the Community Executive, it is estimated that retailers and producers could save 15,600 million dollars in the next 15 years by choosing to improve their products instead of the free option within the legal period. In addition, savings will also be able to return to consumers who will be able to experience savings of 176,500 million dollars in the same period of 15 years.
